There were two giant-killing acts in different cup competitions at the weekend with Ponteland United and Amble Vikings both beating the odds to make progress.

Ponteland have always been the most notable of Northern Alliance flag-bearers in the Northumberland Senior Cup. In the past they have humbled Blyth Spartans and given Bedlington Terriers a run for their money, and last Saturday they showed the quarter-final exit door to Newcastle Blue Star.

In their replay switched back to the Wheatsheaf Ground because of the foot-and-mouth emergency, United produced a mighty defensive performance to secure a 1-0 victory.

Blue Star were repeatedly foiled by a resolute United rearguard in which the stars were Duncan Brown and Steve O'Hagan, and in the 68th minute Paul Horsfall chased a through ball down the middle to beat keeper Paul Bennett.

The victory earned Ponteland the right to entertain holders Newcastle United Reserves in the semi-finals and they are clinging to the hope that the farming emergency which has closed down their Leisure Centre Ground will soon ease.

If Alan Shearer can be made a Freeman of Newcastle, the town of Amble should do the same for Steve Gibbard, who hit five of the Vikings' goals in the 6-1 demolition.

The other goal was claimed by Paul Brennan and the Seasiders, promoted to the Bowl after two straight triumphs in the County's Minor Cup, will now face North Shields in the Bowl Final.

The Robins made progress via a 2-1 victory at Percy Main.

When the visitors built up a two-goal lead with goals by Brian Gabbitas, his first scored after scarcely two minutes, it looked like becoming one-way traffic.

Percy Main spurned a chance to revive their fortunes before the break when a tame spot-kick taken by Richard Craven was easily saved by Robins keeper Neil Smith.

After the break North Shields came under a fair bit of pressure, particularly after Paul Jordon tucked away his penalty to reduce the deficit.

Both sides missed later scoring chances but the biggest culprits were probably Percy Main's Jordon and Mark Graham.

Northbank made it into the Cumberland Senior Cup Final by beating Frizlington 3-0. All their goals were put away by Chris Grainger and they will now meet either Penrith or Windscale.

One of the Northumberland Minor Cup semi-finals - the replay between Wooler and Haydon Bridge United - was a casualty of the farming crisis, but the University of Northumbria beat Heddon Institute 5-4 after extra-time.

Heddon strikes by Gavin Kirk and Jim Patterson and replies for the students by Francois Mattei and Alex Robbins made it all square at 2-2 after 90 minutes.

In the extra period, Steve Corr's brace for Institute was outweighed when the University had Jake Hutchinson, Mark Wecklewek and Chris Toy on target.